Chapter 30
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Chapter 30: The Mad Elder
In the pursuit of immortality, one not only trained in realm advancement and power cultivation but also studied alchemy, weapon forging, and array restrictions. The Dao had three thousand paths—all different yet ultimately converging. When practiced to their extremes, all led to similar ends.
Yet these arrays remained far beyond Ye Yun’s current understanding. He’d never encountered such mysteries before.
The young man stared at the silver-glowing soil ahead, not daring to step forward. Nearby spirit fields lay shrouded in swirling mists, some areas veiled in perpetual rain while others crackled with lightning.
After prolonged hesitation, he called out, "This lowly Ye Yun comes to tend spirit fields."
His words echoed emptily before dissolving into silence.
"Ye Yun here to tend spirit fields! Is Elder Seven present?" He inhaled deeply, amplifying his voice.
A wrathful roar erupted from every direction at once: "Who dares make ruckus in my fields?!"
The voice seemed to emanate from every spirit herb, strange flower, and inch of soil—impossible to locate. Ye Yun froze as oppressive energy pressed down on him.
"Who permitted entry? Have the guarding disciples died? If not, I’ll ensure their miserable ends!" Now the voice came clearly from behind him.
The repeated mentions of death sent coldness creeping through Ye Yun’s veins. Was this Elder Seven? More than just eccentric.
Turning slowly, he faced a disheveled elder standing one zhang away. The man’s wild white hair framed a surprisingly youthful face, his ragged robes contrasting with the faint glow surrounding him.
"Esteemed Elder Seven?" Ye Yun averted his gaze and bowed. "This disciple accepted a Trial Hall mission to tend spirit fields."
"Tend fields?!" The elder’s eyes blazed. "My fields need tending?!"
Ye Yun blinked in confusion. "The Trial Hall assigned—"
"Fools! For ten years I’ve forbidden helpers! No time to oversee meddlers! Especially…" Elder Seven’s tirade halted abruptly. He leaned closer, studying Ye Yun. "You’re new to Tian Zhu Peak?"
A bitter smile touched Ye Yun’s lips. Clearly the overgrown fields needed assistance, but this elder’s isolationist nature rejected all sect interference.
"Senior, I merely wished to observe our sect’s spirit fields. If unwelcome…"
"Observe?!" The elder’s face flushed crimson. "These fields aren’t some curiosity stall!"
Ye Yun hung his head, words dying in his throat.
"Begone!"
Elder Seven trembled with rage, looking ready to strike.
Ye Yun felt a heavy weight lift from his shoulders as he turned to leave.
Survival had become more pressing than figuring out how to abandon the mission.
"You’ve lingered here three months! Every plant in these spirit fields is precious. Even those old men from Shadowless Peak wouldn’t get past me!"
Ye Yun froze mid-turn.
Three months? He’d just arrived. How had it become three months in the elder’s mind?
This Elder Seven wasn’t just eccentric – his sanity seemed questionable. How could Tian Zhu Peak entrust such vital spirit fields to an unstable guardian?
"Fetch wine!"
The raspy command made Ye Yun jump. Elder Seven glared, "Why are you gaping? Move!"
"Wine?" Ye Yun stared blankly.
"Three months watching me and still clueless?" The elder jabbed a finger toward the mist-shrouded edge of the field. "Shall I fetch it myself?"
Though Elder Seven’s earlier threats lacked real intent, now Ye Yun felt stinging waves of murderous intent. The dormant black and white lights within him flickered in response. Through thinning mist, he glimpsed a vine-choked stone chamber.
"Elder Seven… is the wine there?" His voice trembled.
"Fool!" The elder swiped his hand.
Darkness swallowed Ye Yun’s vision. Metallic blood filled his mouth. When his sight cleared, he stood before the stone chamber’s weathered door.
"Three jars!"
Chest throbbing, Ye Yun shoved the creaking door. His shoulders sagged in relief – the chamber overflowed with green-glazed wine jars. Most remained sealed, though some stood empty.
"Your wine, Elder." He raced back, jars clutched to his chest. His enhanced body from the black and white lights had barely withstood that casual strike. An ordinary practitioner at the Internal Breathing stage might’ve been crippled.
"Teachably clever!" Elder Seven’s rage vanished as he guzzled the wine. "Previous dolts couldn’t even find the jars."
Ye Yun’s back prickled with cold sweat. He imagined past disciples lying broken after failing this insane test.
Pop!
Spiritual power shattered the jar seals. Thick medicinal fragrance mingled with alcohol assaulted Ye Yun’s senses. Just breathing it made spiritual energy flood his meridians.
"Superb!" The elder drained three jars in an instant. Smacking his lips, he extended a grimy hand. "Waist token."
Bewildered, Ye Yun complied. Elder Seven scratched the token with a fingernail.
"Return the jars. Then scram."
"But…"
"Consider it favor." The elder’s formerly clouded eyes gleamed sharp. "I’m crediting others’ completed tasks to you. Decent talent – come back if you want more spirit stones."
Ye Yun’s hands shook as he gathered empty jars. Residual green liquid coated each bottom. When he inhaled the dregs’ aroma, spiritual energy surged through him like absorbing low-grade spirit stones.
An audacious idea ignited. His pulse quickened.
